The future of rail transportation literally may be up in the air. Entrepreneurs and engineers from around the world have proposed radical concepts for hauling freight and passengers, including a multistory flying train, a supersized blimp and super-high-speed trains.

Orbcomm Inc. moved to fortify its global freight telematics service with the purchase of Blue Tree Systems Limited International, a company based in Galway, Ireland, but with extensive business in the United States, Germany and France.